U.S. patent number 11,230,871 [Application Number 16/724,153] was granted by the patent office on 2022-01-25 for opening/closing body control device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Valeo Japan Co., Ltd.. The grantee listed for this patent is Valeo Japan Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Kenji Amimoto, Toaki Yagihara.
United States Patent |
11,230,871 |
Yagihara , et al. |
January 25, 2022 |
Opening/closing body control device
Abstract
An opening/closing body control device may include an actuator,
a drive device configured to drive the actuator configured to at
least one of open and close an opening/closing body of a vehicle,
an operation switch, and a signal output device. The signal output
device may be configured to drive the actuator via outputting a
signal to the drive device when the operation switch is operated.
The signal output device may include a signal line, a submergence
detection circuit configured to detect submergence of the vehicle
in water, a switch, and a pullup resistance connected via the
switch to a power source. The switch may be configured to turn on
when submergence of the vehicle in water is detected and the
operation switch is not operated. The pullup resistance may be
connected electrically to the signal line when the switch turns on
to output a signal to the drive device.
Inventors: |
Yagihara; Toaki (Tokyo,
JP), Amimoto; Kenji (Tokyo, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Valeo Japan Co., Ltd. |
Saitama |
N/A |
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Valeo Japan Co., Ltd.
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
1000006068999 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/724,153 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2019 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20200199927 A1 |
Jun 25, 2020 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 21, 2018 [JP] |
|
|
JP2018-239954 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05F
15/40 (20150115); E05F 15/60 (20150115); H03K
17/6871 (20130101); E05Y 2900/55 (20130101); E05Y
2400/65 (20130101); E05Y 2201/434 (20130101); B60J
1/17 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E05F
15/40 (20150101); H03K 17/687 (20060101); E05F
15/60 (20150101); B60J 1/17 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
English abstract for JP-2001-20601. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Barnie; Rexford N
Assistant Examiner: Ortiz; Elim
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fishman Stewart PLLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An opening/closing body control device comprising: an actuator
configured to at least one of open and close an opening/closing
body of a vehicle; a drive device configured to drive the actuator;
an operation switch that is operated at the at least one of opening
and closing of the opening/closing body; and a signal output device
configured to drive the actuator via outputting a signal of a
voltage level below a threshold value to the drive device when the
operation switch is operated; wherein the signal output device
includes: a signal line connecting the operation switch and the
drive device to output the signal to the drive device when the
operation switch is operated; a submergence detection circuit
configured to detect submergence of the vehicle in water; a switch
configured to turn on when submergence of the vehicle in water is
detected and the operation switch is not operated; and a pullup
resistance that is connected via the switch to a power source, the
pullup resistance connected electrically to the signal line when
the switch turns on to output a signal, a voltage level of which is
equal to or greater than the threshold value, to the drive
device.
2. The opening/closing body control device according to claim 1,
wherein: the switch includes: a first transistor connected to the
submergence detection circuit via a connection; and a second
transistor that is connected to the first transistor to connect the
pullup resistance and the power source; the operation switch is
connected to the connection between the submergence detection
circuit and the first transistor; and the first transistor
electrically connects the pullup resistance and the power source
via driving the second transistor when submergence of the vehicle
in water is detected and the operation switch is not operated.
3. The opening/closing body control device according to claim 2,
wherein the second transistor includes a metal-oxide-semiconductor
field-effect transistor.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese
Patent Application No. JP 2018-239954 filed on Dec. 21, 2018, the
disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an opening/closing body control
device.
BACKGROUND
A power window device drives a window glass of a side door or the
like in a vehicle by an actuator of a motor or the like for
up-and-down movement. The power window device is provided with an
operation switch for a user to instruct an up-and-down movement of
a window, a drive device for driving the window, and a signal
output device for outputting a signal to the drive device in
response to an operation of the operation switch. The signal output
device inputs a signal of a low-voltage level below a predetermined
value to the drive device when the operation switch is operated,
for example.
However, in a case where a vehicle is submerged in water due to
accidents, disasters or the like, a conductive part including a
welding portion of a circuit component in the signal output device
gets wet with water, and therefore, in some cases the signal to be
outputted to the drive device is lowered to a low-voltage level. In
this case, although the user does not operate the operation switch,
the signal of the low-voltage level is outputted to the drive
device, possibly creating an erroneous operation of the window. For
preventing the erroneous operation of the window, there is made a
proposal that an insulating epoxy resin with excellent water
resistance is filled in an inner part of a case accommodating the
circuit component in the power window device to mold the circuit
component inside of the case (for example, refer to Japanese Patent
Laid-Open No. 2001-20601 A).
However, a manufacturing cost of the device increases by filling
the epoxy resin into the inside of the case. For suppressing the
manufacturing cost, a proposal of applying waterproof coating onto
the circuit component is also made. There are some cases where even
when the waterproof coating is applied onto the circuit component,
the waterproof performance is not sufficient as the waterproof to
the circuit configuration. The power window device is required to
ensure a time for up-and-down movement of the window in response to
the operation of the user by preventing the erroneous operation of
the window even when the device is submerged in water.
SUMMARY
The present invention is made in view of the foregoing problems in
the conventional technology, and an object of the present invention
is to provide an opening/closing body control device that can
prevent an erroneous operation of an opening/closing body when a
vehicle is submerged in water and ensure a time for operating the
opening/closing body in response to an operation of an operation
switch by a user.
According to an aspect of the present invention, an opening/closing
body control device comprises:
an actuator that opens/closes an opening/closing body of a
vehicle;
a drive device that drives the actuator;
an operation switch that is operated at the opening/closing of the
opening/closing body; and
a signal output device that drives the actuator by outputting a
signal of a voltage level below a threshold value to the drive
device when the operation switch is operated, wherein
the signal output device includes:
a signal line that connects the operation switch and the drive
device to output the signal to the drive device in response to the
operation of the operation switch;
a submergence detection circuit that detects submergence of the
vehicle in water;
a switch that turns on in a case where the submergence of the
vehicle in water is detected and the operation switch is not
operated; and
a pullup resistance that is connected via the switch to a power
source, the pullup resistance being connected electrically to the
signal line when the switch turns on to output a signal a voltage
level of which is equal to or more than a threshold value to the
drive device.
According to the aspect of the present invention, at the submerging
of the vehicle in water the erroneous operation of the
opening/closing body can be prevented to ensure the time for
operating the opening/closing body in response to the operation of
the operation switch by the user, thus making it possible to
improve safety of the vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed description
made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like
parts are designated by like reference numbers and in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a power window
device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is tables showing an operation of each of elements in an
output circuit at a normal time and at a submerged time of a
vehicle each;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an output circuit in a comparative
example 1; and
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an output circuit in a comparative
example 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
First Embodiment
Hereinafter, an explanation will be made of an embodiment of the
present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the embodiment, an explanation will be made of an example where
an opening/closing body control device according to the embodiment
of the present invention is applied to a power window device that
controls opening/closing of a window located in a side door or the
like of a vehicle.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a power window
device according to the embodiment.
The power window device 1 is configured to control opening/closing
of a window W located in the side door or the like in the vehicle,
and, as shown in FIG. 1, is provided with operation switches SW1,
SW2 that are operated by a user, a drive device 2 that opens/closes
the window W by elevating the window W, and a signal output device
3 that outputs a signal to the drive device 2 in response to the
operation of each of the operation switches SW1, SW2 by the
user.
The operation switches SW1, SW2 are provided for the user to
operate the elevation of the window W, and, for example, the
operation switch SW1 for moving-up and the operation switch SW2 for
moving-down are respectively located on the side door of the
vehicle.
The operation switches SW1, SW2 each may adopt a switch provided
with two openable/closable contact points C1, C2 as an example. The
operation switches SW1, SW2 each are connected at the contact point
C1-side to the signal output device 3 and grounded at the contact
point C2-side. When the user operates the operation switches SW1,
SW2, the contact points C1, C2 become in a closed state to cause
the operation switches SW1, Sw2 to turn on, and in a state where
the user does not operate the operation switches SW1, SW2, the
contact points C1, C2 become in an open state to cause the
operation switches SW1, SW2 to turn off.
The drive device 2 is provided with a motor 21 for elevating the
window W, and a drive control circuit 22 for driving the motor
21.
The drive control circuit 22 is provided with input terminals 24a,
24b, which are connected to the signal lines 51, 71 for inputting
signals from the signal output device 3 to the input terminals 24a,
24b. When the operation switch SW1 is operated, a signal is input
to the drive control circuit 22 via the input terminal 24a from the
signal line 51, and when the operation switch SW2 is operated, a
signal is input to the drive control circuit 22 via the input
terminal 24b from the signal line 71. Although omitted in
illustration, the input terminals 24a, 24b of the drive control
circuit 22 respectively are provided with voltage sensors. The
drive control circuit 22 determines a voltage level to be input to
each of the input terminals 24a, 24b, and thereby, an up-movement
instruction or a down-movement instruction of the window W is
outputted to the drive control circuit 22.
The drive device 2 is provided with pullup resistances 25, 26
connected to the signal lines 51, 71 respectively. The pullup
resistances 25, 26 are connected at an input side to a vehicle
power source, and at an output side to the signal lines 51, 71
respectively. The vehicle power source is not limited to a specific
type, but may be an ignition switch, for example, or a battery.
The signal output device 3 is provided with a first circuit 5 that
outputs a signal to the drive device 2 in response to an operation
of the operation switch SW1, and a second circuit 7 that outputs a
signal to the drive device 2 in response to an operation of the
operation switch SW2. Hereinafter, at the time of collectively
referring to the first circuit 5 and the second circuit 7, the
first circuit 5 and the second circuit 7 are simply referred to as
"circuits 5, 7" as well. The signal output device 3 is also
provided with a submergence detection circuit 9 that is connected
to each of the circuits 5, 7 and detects submergence of the vehicle
in water.
The submergence detection circuit 9 is provided with a submergence
sensor 91 that detects submergence of the vehicle in water, and a
pnp transistor 93 connected via a resistance 92 to the submergence
sensor 91.
The submergence sensor 91 may be configured of electrodes at two
locations that are arranged to oppose to each other on a substrate,
for example. When the electrodes are wet with water by the
submergence of the vehicle in water, a leak current is generated
between the electrodes, and power supply is established by the leak
current to detect the submergence of the vehicle in water.
The place of locating the submergence sensor 91 is not limited, but
the place where the submergence sensor 91 gets wet because of
raining at a normal time may be avoided and the submergence sensor
91 may be located in the place where the submergence sensor 91 is
accommodated in a case or the like, and gets wet when the entire
vehicle is submerged in water.
The transistor 93 has a base side that is connected via the
resistance 92 to the submergence sensor 91 and an emitter side that
is connected to the vehicle power source. A collector side of the
transistor 93 is connected to each of the circuits 5, 7. A
resistance 94 is connected between the emitter and the base of the
transistor 93. When the leak current flows to the submergence
sensor 91, a voltage is applied to the base of the transistor 93 to
cause the transistor 93 to turn on, establishing the supply power
between the collector and the emitter.
The first circuit 5 is provided with the signal line 51, a pullup
resistance 52 connected to the signal line 51, and a switch 53 that
switches electrical connection and disconnection between the signal
line 51 and the pullup resistance 52.
The signal line 51 has one end side that is connected to the
contact point C1-side of the operation switch SW1 and the other end
side that is connected via an output terminal 4a of the signal
output device 3 to the input terminal 24a of the drive control
circuit 22 in the drive device 2.
The pull up resistance 52 has one end side that is connected
between the operation switch SW1 and the output terminal 4a of the
signal line 51 and the other end side that is connected via a diode
54 and the switch 53 to the vehicle power source.
The switch 53 is configured of a MOSFET (metal-oxide-semiconductor
field-effect transistor) 56, and an npn transistor 55 that drives
the MOSFET 56. The transistor 55 has a base side that is connected
via two resistors 57, 58 to the collector side of the transistor 93
in the submergence detection circuit 9. The operation switch SW1 is
connected to connection between the transistor 93 and the
transistor 55.
Specifically the contact point C1 of the operation switch SW1 is
connected via a diode 59 between the two resistances 57, 58.
The signal line 51 is connected between the diode 59 and the
contact point C1 of the operation switch SW1. The transistor 55 has
a collector side that is connected via a resistance 60 to the
vehicle power source and an emitter side that is grounded. A
resistance 61 is connected between the emitter and the base of the
transistor 55.
The MOSFET 56 has a gate side that is connected between the
collector side of the transistor 55 and the vehicle power source, a
source side that is connected to the vehicle power source, and a
drain side that is connected via the diode 54 to the pull up
resistance 52.
With this configuration, the transistor 55 and the MOSFET 56 in the
switch 53 each turn on in a case where the transistor 93 in the
submergence detection circuit 9 turns on due to the submergence and
the operation switch SW1 turns off, thus electrically connecting
the pull up resistance 52 to the signal line 51.
The second circuit 7 has the same configuration as the first
circuit 5, and is provided with the signal line 71, a pullup
resistance 72 connected to the signal line 71, and a switch 73 that
switches electrical connection and disconnection between the signal
line 71 and the pullup resistance 72.
The signal line 71 has one end side that is connected to the
contact point C1-side of the operation switch SW2 and the other end
side that is connected via an output terminal 4b of the signal
output device 3 to an input terminal 24b of the drive control
circuit 22 in the drive device 2.
The switch 73 is configured of a MOSFET 76, and an npn transistor
75 that drives the MOSFET 76. The transistor 75 has a base side
that is connected via two resistors 77, 78 to the collector side of
the transistor 93 in the submergence detection circuit 9, a
collector side that is connected via a resistance 80 to the vehicle
power source, and an emitter side that is grounded. A resistance 81
is connected between the emitter and the base of the transistor 75.
The contact point C1 of the operation switch SW2 is connected via a
diode 79 between the resistances 77, 78. That is, the operation
switch SW2 is connected to connection between the transistor 93 in
the submergence detection circuit 9 and the transistor 75.
The signal line 71 is connected between the diode 79 and the
contact point C1 of the operation switch SW2. The transistor 75 has
a collector side that is connected via the resistance 80 to the
vehicle power source and an emitter side that is grounded. The
resistance 81 is connected between the emitter and the base of the
transistor 75.
The MOSFET 76 has a gate side that is connected to the collector
side of the transistor 75, a source side that is connected to the
vehicle power source, and a drain side that is connected via a
diode 74 to the pull up resistance 72.
With this configuration, the transistor 75 and the MOSFET 76 in the
switch 73 each turn on in a case where the transistor 93 in the
submergence detection circuit 9 turns on due to the submergence of
the vehicle in water and the operation switch SW2 turns off, thus
electrically connecting the pullup resistance 72 to the signal line
71.
An explanation will be made of the operation of the power window
device 1 configured as described above.
The drive control circuit 22 in the drive device 2 determines
whether the operation switch SW1 or the operation switch SW2 is
operated by determining a voltage level to be input to each of the
input terminals 24a, 24b. In a case where the drove control circuit
22 determines that the operation switch SW1 or the operation switch
SW2 is operated, the drive control circuit 22 drives the motor 21
to move up or down the window W.
In the embodiment, the drive control circuit 22 performs a low
active control. When the drive control circuit 22 determines that a
voltage level of a signal to be input to each of the input
terminals 24a, 24b is equal to or more than a threshold value TH,
the drive control circuit 22 determines that the operation switch
SW1 and the operation switch SW2 both are not operated to stop the
motor 21 and set the window W to be in a non-elevating state. The
threshold value TH is in advance set.
In a case where the voltage level of the input terminal 24a is
below the threshold value TH and the voltage level of the input
terminal 24b is equal to or more than the threshold value TH, the
drive control circuit 22 determines that the operation switch SW1
is operated to drive the motor 21 and move up the window W.
In a case where the voltage level of the input terminal 24a is
equal to or more than the threshold value TH and the voltage level
of the input terminal 24b is below the threshold value TH, the
drive control circuit 22 determines that the operation switch SW2
is operated to drive the motor 21 and move down the window W.
The signal output device 3 outputs a signal of a voltage level
below the threshold value TH (hereinafter, referred to as "Lo
signal") from the output terminal 4a or the output terminal 4b when
the operation switch SW1 or the operation switch SW2 is operated,
thereby changing the voltage level to be input to the input
terminal 24a or the input terminal 24b of the drive control circuit
22 to the threshold value TH or less to elevate the window W.
A specific operation of the signal output device 3 will be
explained at the normal time and at the submerging of the vehicle
in water separately.
FIG. 2 is tables showing an operation of each of the elements in
the first circuit 5 at the normal time and at the submerging of the
vehicle in water respectively.
FIG. 2 shows an operation of each of the elements in the first
circuit 5 in response to an operation of the operation switch SW1
at the normal time and at the submerging of the vehicle in water
each.
It should be noted that although omitted in illustration, each of
elements in the second circuit 7 operates in response to an
operation of the operation switch SW2 in the same way as in the
first circuit 5.
As shown in FIG. 2, since the leak current does not flow in the
submergence sensor 91 at the normal time, the transistor 93 in the
submergence detection circuit 9 turns off. Therefore, both the
transistor 55 and the MOSFET 56 in the switch 53 turn off in the
first circuit 5 regardless of the operation of the operation switch
SW1, and the pullup resistance 52 is electrically disconnected to
the signal line 51.
In a case where the operation switch SW1 turns off at the normal
time, since the contact points C1, C2 are in an open state, the Lo
signal is not input to the drive control circuit 22 in the drive
device 2 from the signal output device 3, and as shown in FIG. 2,
the first circuit 5 is open to the drive device 2.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the pullup resistances 25,
26 provided in the drive device 2-side are connected to the signal
line 51. Therefore, a signal (hereinafter, referred to as "Hi
signal") equal to or more than the threshold value TH pulled up by
the vehicle power source via the pullup resistance 25 is input to
the input terminal 24a of the drive device 2. As a result, the
drive control device 22 determines that the operation switch SW1 is
not operated.
In a case where the operation switch SW1 is operated to cause the
contact points C1, C2 to be in a closed state, since the contact
point C2 is grounded and the output terminal 24a becomes to the GND
level, the Lo signal is input to the input terminal 24a of the
drive control circuit 22. Thereby, the drive control device 22
determines that the operation switch SW1 is operated.
As similar to the first circuit 5 described above, at the normal
time, the transistor 75 and the MOSFET 76 in the switch 73 turn off
in the second circuit 7, and the pullup resistance 72 is
electrically disconnected to the signal line 71.
In a case where the operation switch SW2 turns off, since the Hi
signal pulled up by the vehicle power source is input via the pull
up resistance 26 to the input terminal 24b of the drive device 2,
the drive control circuit 22 determines that the operation switch
Sw2 is not operated. When the operation switch SW2 is operated,
since the output terminal 4b becomes to the GND level, the Lo
signal is input to the input terminal 24b of the drive control
circuit 22, and the drive control circuit 22 determines that the
operation switch SW2 is operated.
Next, an explanation will be made of an operation of the signal
output device 3 in the embodiment at the submerging of the vehicle
in water in contrast to comparative examples 1 and 2.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a comparative example 1.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a comparative example 2.
For distinguishing from the configuration in the embodiment, the
comparative example 1 is shown by attaching "A" to the end of the
numeral and the comparative example 2 is shown by attaching "B" to
the end of the numeral. It should be noted that FIG. 3 and FIG. 4
are simplified diagrams, and FIG. 3 shows only the configuration
that a single operation switch SW10A is connected to a drive
control circuit 22A, and FIG. 4 shows only the configuration that a
single operation switch SW10B is connected to a drive control
circuit 22B. The comparative example 1 in FIG. 3 shows the
configuration that a signal output device 3A is not provided with a
submergence detection circuit, a switch and a pullup resistance.
The comparative example 2 in FIG. 4 shows the configuration that a
signal output device 3B is not provided with a switch, and a pullup
resistance 52B is connected directly between a submergence
detection circuit and an operation switch SW10B.
When the vehicle is submerged in water, the contact point of the
operation switch SW10A possibly gets wet with the water to generate
the leak current.
In this case, in the comparative example 1 in FIG. 3, which is
different from the present embodiment, the pullup resistance is not
connected to a signal line 51A. Therefore, an output terminal OP
becomes to the GND (the low voltage) level regardless of no
operation of the operation switch SW10A, and an Lo signal is input
to an input terminal IP of the drive control circuit 22A. In this
case, since the drive control circuit 22 determines that the
operation switch SW10A is operated, the drive control circuit 22
possibly elevates the window erroneously.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, in the embodiment when the
vehicle is submerged in water, the leak current flows in the
submergence sensor 91 of the submergence detection circuit 9,
thereby turning on the transistor 93.
In a case where the operation switch SW1 turns off, since the
contact points C1, C2 are in the open state, the current that has
flowed from the vehicle power source to the transistor 93 flows to
the transistor 55 in the first circuit 5. The transistor 55 turns
on by an application of the voltage to the base to establish power
supply between the collector and the emitter. Thereby, since the
voltage is applied from the vehicle power source to the gate side
of the MOSFET 56 connected to the collect side of the transistor
55, the MOSFET 56 turns on to establish the power supply between
the source and the drain.
As a result, the pullup resistance 52 is connected electrically to
the signal line 51. Even in a case where the leak current is
generated in the operation switch SW1, since the output terminal 4a
is pulled up via the pullup resistance 52 by the vehicle power
source, a signal to be input to the input terminal 24a of the drive
device 2 is maintained to an Hi signal. Thereby, the drive control
circuit 22 determines that the operation switch SW1 is not
operated.
On the other hand, in FIG. 1 in a case where the operation switch
SW1 is operated to turn on at the submerging of the vehicle in
water, since the contact points C1, C2 are in the closed state, the
current that has flowed from the vehicle power source to the
transistor 93 flows to the operation switch SW1-side. Thereby,
since the current does not flow in the switch 53, the transistor 55
and the MOSFET 56 turn off, and the pullup resistance 52 is
disconnected electrically to the signal line 51. Since the contact
point C2 of the operation switch SW1 is grounded, the output
terminal 4a becomes to the GND level, and the Lo signal is input to
the input terminal 24a of the drive control circuit 22. Thereby,
the drive control circuit 22 determines that the operation switch
SW1 is operated.
As similar in the second circuit 7 as well, in a case where the
operation switch SW2 is not operated at the submerging of the
vehicle in water, the transistor 75 and the MOSFET 76 in the switch
73 turn on to connect the pullup resistance 72 electrically to the
signal line 71, thereby maintaining the signal to be input to the
input terminal 24b of the drive control circuit 22 to the Hi
signal. Thereby, the drive control circuit 22 determines that the
operation switch SW2 is not operated. On the other hand, in a case
where the operation switch SW2 is operated, the transistor 75 and
the MOSFET 76 in the switch 73 turn off to disconnect the pullup
resistance 72 electrically to the signal line 71, and the Lo signal
is input to the input terminal 24b of the drive control circuit 22.
Thereby, the drive control circuit 22 determines that the operation
switch SW2 is operated.
In this way, in the embodiment the operation switch SW1 is
connected to the connection between the submergence detection
switch 9 and the switch 53, and the operation switch SW2 is
connected to the connection between the submergence detection
switch 9 and the switch 73. Therefore, at the submerging of the
vehicle in water, electrical connection and disconnection of the
pullup resistances 52, 57 to the signals lines 51, 71 can be
switched in response to operation states of the operation switches
SW1, SW2.
On the other hand, in the comparative example 2 shown in FIG. 4,
the pullup resistance 52B is connected directly to a transistor 93B
in a submergence detection circuit 9B without providing a switch in
a first circuit 5B. In this case, when the transistor 93B turns on
at the submerging of the vehicle in water, the pullup resistance
53B is regularly connected electrically to the signal line 51B.
Thereby, since the voltage of the Lo signal to be outputted to a
drive control circuit 22B is pulled up when the operation switch
SW10B is operated, it is difficult to maintain the voltage level of
the Lo signal to be low, so that an erroneous operation of making
the elevation impossible is possibly generated.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1 in the embodiment, since the
switches 53, 73 are provided, only in a case where the operation
switches SW1, SW2 are not operated, the pullup resistances 52, 72
are connected electrically to the signal lines 51, 71. Therefore,
it is possible to maintain the voltage level of the Lo signal to be
outputted when the operation switches SW1, SW2 are operated to be
low.
In addition, in the comparative example 2 shown in FIG. 4, since
the pullup resistance 52B is regularly connected to the signal line
51B, a time for a difference in potential between contact points of
the operation switch SW10B to be generated becomes long, which
possibly increases a corrosion speed of the contact point in the
operation switch SW10B. Therefore, there is a possibility that even
in a case where the pullup resistance 52B is provided, a time of
being capable of maintaining the voltage level of the Hi signal
becomes short to cause an erroneous operation of the window or a
time of being capable of operating the window by the user at the
submerging of the vehicle in water becomes short.
In the embodiment, since the pullup resistances 52, 57 are not
regularly connected in this configuration shown in FIG. 1, it is
possible to shorten the time for the difference in potential
between the contact points C1,C2 to be generated and decrease the
corrosion speed of the operation switches Sw1, SW2. Therefore, the
erroneous operation of the window W can be prevented at the
submerging of the vehicle in water to ensure the time for the user
to operate the window W.
Further, in the comparative example 2 shown FIG. 4, since the
current flows in the operation switch SW10B-side via the pullup
resistance 52B, it is necessary to make a resistance value of the
pullup resistance 52B large for protection of the operation switch
SW10B. When the resistance value of the pullup resistance 52B is
made large, it is difficult to maintain the voltage level of the Hi
signal to be high.
In the embodiment, since the pullup resistances 52, 72 are not
regularly connected, the time when the current flows in each of the
operation switches SW1, SW2 can be shortened to suppress the
resistance values of the pullup resistances 52, 72 to be low.
Because of this, it is possible to maintain the voltage level of
the Hi signal at the time of connecting the pullup resistances 52,
72 to be high. In addition, the pullup by the low resistance by
connecting the vehicle power source and the pullup resistances 52,
72 with the MOSFETS 56, 76 having a small voltage drop can be made
to maintain the voltage level of the Hi signal to be high.
As described above, the power window device 1 (the opening/closing
body control device) according to the embodiment comprises:
(1) the motor 21 (the actuator) that elevates (opens/closes) the
window W (the opening/closing body) of the vehicle;
the drive device 2 that drives the motor 21;
the operation switches SW1, SW2 that are operated at the elevating
of the window W; and
the signal output device 3 that drives the motor 21 by outputting
the Lo signal (the signal of the voltage level below the threshold
value TH) to the drive device 2 when the operation switches SW1,
SW2 are operated, wherein
the signal output device 3 includes:
the signal lines 51, 71 that connect the operation switches SW1,
SW2 and the drive device 2 and output the signal to the drive
device 2 in response to the operations of the operation switches
SW1, SW2;
the submergence detection circuit 9 that detects submergence of the
vehicle in water;
the switches 53, 73 that turn on in a case where the submergence of
the vehicle in water is detected and the operation switches SW1,
SW2 are not operated; and
the pullup resistances 52, 72 that are connected via the switches
53, 73 to the vehicle power source (the power source), the pullup
resistances 52, 72 being electrically connected to the signal lines
51, 71 when the switches 53, 73 turn on, to output the Hi signal
(the signal the voltage level of which is equal to or more than the
threshold value TH) to the drive device 2.
When the circuit component is wet because of the submerging of the
vehicle in water, in some cases the Lo signal is outputted
regardless of no operation of the operation switches SW1, SW2,
which possibly causes the window W to perform the erroneous
operation.
According to the embodiment, at the submerging of the vehicle in
water and at the time the operation switches SW1, SW2 are not
operated, the pullup resistances 52, 72 are connected electrically
to the signal lines 51, 71 to output the Hi signal to the drive
device 2, thereby making it possible to prevent the erroneous
operation of the window W.
In addition, at the submerging of the vehicle in water the pullup
resistances 52, 72 are not regularly connected to the signal lines
51, 71 and only in a case where the operation switches SW1, SW2 are
not operated, the pullup resistances 52, 72 are caused to be
connected electrically to the signal lines 51, 71. Thereby, the
time when the difference in potential is generated is shortened,
making it possible to decrease the corrosion speed of the contact
points C1, C2 or the like in the operation switches SW1, SW2.
Therefore, it is possible to ensure the time for the user to
operate the window W at the submerging of the vehicle in water,
thus making it possible to improve the safety of the vehicle.
Further, as the comparative example 2 shown in FIG. 4, in a case
where the pullup resistance 52B is regularly connected, it is
necessary to make the resistance value of the pullup resistance 52B
large for the protection of the operation switch SW10B, but in the
embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, since the pullup resistances 52, 72
are not regularly connected, it is possible to suppress the
resistance values of the pullup resistances 52, 72 to be low.
Thereby, the voltage level of the Hi signal at the time of
connecting the pullup resistances 52, 72 can be maintained to be
high to appropriately prevent the erroneous operation of the window
W.
(2) The switches 53, 73 are provided with:
the transistors 55, 75 (a first transistor) connected to the
submergence detection circuit 9; and
the MOSFETS 56, 76 (a second transistor) that are connected to the
transistors 55, 75 to connect the pullup resistances 52, 72 and the
vehicle power source, wherein
the operation switches SW1, SW2 are connected to be branched in the
connection between the submergence detection circuit 9 and the
transistors 55, 75, and
the transistors 55, 75 drive the MOSFETS 56, 76 in a case where the
submergence of the vehicle in water is detected and the operation
switches SW1, SW2 are not operated, thereby electrically connecting
the pullup resistances 52, 72 and the vehicle power source.
The switches 53, 73 are configured of the transistors 55, 75 that
turn on in response to the states of the submergence detection
circuit 9 and the operation switches SW1, SW2, and the MOSFETS 56,
76 that are driven by the turning-on of the transistors 55, 75 to
switch the electrical connection and disconnection between the
vehicle power source and the pullup resistances 52, 72. Thereby, at
the submerging of the vehicle in water, the switching of the
connection and the disconnection of the pullup resistances 52, 57
to the signal lines 51, 71 can be appropriately performed in
response to the states of the operation switches SW1, SW2.
In addition, the pullup by the low resistance by connecting the
vehicle power source and the pullup resistances 52, 72 with the
MOSFETS 56, 76 having a small voltage drop can be made to maintain
the voltage level of the Hi signal to be high. Thereby, the
erroneous operation of the window W at the submerging of the
vehicle in water can be prevented.
In the aforementioned embodiment, an explanation is made of the
power window device 1 provided in the window W of the single side
door, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and a
device as similar to the above configuration may be provided in the
window W of each of side doors in the vehicle. In this case, the
submergence detection circuit 9 may be provided with a separate
circuit as a common circuit to the plurality of power window
devices 1, or the submergence detection circuits 9 may be provided
respectively to the forward side doors and to the backward side
doors in the vehicle. An application of the opening/closing body
control device in the present invention is not limited to the power
window device 1, but the same configuration may be applied to a
device opening/closing a sunroof as another opening/closing body,
for example.
In the aforementioned embodiment, the MOSFETS 56, 76 as the second
transistor connecting the vehicle power source and the pullup
resistances 52, 72 are used in the switches 53, 73, but the present
invention is not limited thereto. A pnp transistor may be used as
the second transistor in accordance with the voltage required for
the pullup of the Hi signal to be outputted at the submerging of
the vehicle in water. In a case of using the pnp transistor, the
base side may be connected to the collector sides of the
transistors 55, 75, the emitter side may be connected to the
vehicle power source, and the collector side may be connected via
the diodes 54, 74 to the pullup resistances 52, 72.
The embodiments and the modifications of the present invention are
described thus far, but the present invention is not limited to the
embodiments and the modifications, and can be changed as needed
within the range of the technical concept of the invention.
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